Basics
- Puget Sound Indicator Name
- Floodplains habitat restoration
- Progress Indicator
- Acre (acres)
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The 2030 Habitat Restoration Target for Puget Sound Salmon directs the region to fund and implement 7,200 acres of floodplain, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian habitat restoration activities between 2025 and 2030.
- Topics
- Estuaries (tidal) Management, Floodplains (non-tidal) Management, Riparian Management
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Laura Vary
- Contributing Partners
- Last Updated
- 05/15/2025 22:14:29
Map
Description
This indicator measures acres of floodplain habitat improved through restoration activities. Floodplains create and support a diverse web of natural resources, recreational opportunities, and ecosystem benefits like floodwater storage. This indicator can help us evaluate our success accelerating the pace of habitat restoration.
Progress Indicator Chart
Acres of floodplain habitat restoration (freshwater floodplain, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian areas) implemented or in progress, including all projects that began in fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2024.
Riparian, freshwater floodplain, and estuarine/nearshore areas are critical habitats in Puget Sound. These are boundary areas, linking the land to the sea and forests to aquatic systems. Estuaries and the nearshore create and support a diverse web of natural resources, flora and fauna and recreational opportunities.
Estuaries and the nearshore provide important feeding and resting habitat for young salmon, migratory birds, and many other species. Riparian areas border marine and freshwater systems and keep waters clean and cool, control erosion, moderate flooding events, and offer key habitat for numerous terrestrial, freshwater, and migratory species like salmon. Riparian habitats support a great diversity of wildlife and are frequently used by many different species[i]. Freshwater floodplains provide invaluable services to humans and wildlife alike, supporting agriculture, floodwater storage, and improved water quality[ii].
The majority of floodplain areas have been lost or impaired since 1900 from human activities[ii]. Washington’s population is expected to exceed 9 million by 2050, which will put additional demands on our limited supply of lands[iii]. Given this pressure, it is important to continue protecting and restoring land while prioritizing projects that benefit both humans and wildlife.
This Progress Indicator measures the number of acres restored or in progress of restoration across the Puget Sound region in floodplain areas. The indicator can help us evaluate our success accelerating the pace of habitat restoration.
[i] Quinn, T., G. Wilhere, and K. Krueger (2020). Riparian Ecosystems, Volume 1: Science Synthesis and Management Implications, July 2020 update. Habitat Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/01987/wdfw01987.pdf
[ii] Habitat Strategic Initiative (2021). Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategy: Restoring Puget Sound Floodplains and Estuaries; 2021 Narrative Update. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources. https://pspwa.app.box.com/file/836288644995?s=c4vjba1kffsbfb87b157c00btkfvz8tz
[iii] Washington State Office of Financial Management (2024). Forecast of the State Population; November 2023 Forecast. Forecasting & Research Division, Office of Financial Management. https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/dataresearch/pop/stfc/stfc_2023.pdf
Key Progress Indicator Results
Over the baseline period (2011 through 2024), the acres of floodplains restored has declined, though the number of acres restored varied markedly by year.
- The number of acres restored peaked in 2018 at 2,790 acres. A substantial number of acres were also restored in 2012 and 2014 (2,170 and 2,142 acres, respectively).
- On average, the region restored 1,070 acres of floodplain areas each year over the baseline period.
- In recent years (2020 through 2024), the region restored an average of 760 acres of floodplain areas each year.
Across all habitat types, most restoration activities occurred in riparian areas.
- Over the baseline period, 9,516 acres of riparian areas were restored. Over the same period, 2,952 estuarine/nearshore areas and 925 acres of freshwater floodplains were restored.
- The region also acquired the most acres in riparian areas each year, on average. Over the baseline period, the region restored 680 acres of riparian areas per year on average, compared to 211 acres of estuarine/nearshore areas and 66 acres of freshwater floodplains, per year on average.
This indicator currently only displays baseline information. Therefore, we cannot evaluate a trend and apply the “No Trend” designation. As we collect more information on this indicator, we will update this report to characterize its trend.
Methods
- Monitoring Program
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office owns and manages the PRISM database. Lead Entities are local community groups, established by Washington state law, which establish and implement watershed and salmon recovery plans. These plans identify key restoration projects through unique approaches that balance what salmon need to recover and what is feasible to implement with available resources.
- Data Source
PRISM Online grant management database.
The floodplain habitat restoration Progress Indicator tracks the acres of habitat restored through projects in floodplain areas across Puget Sound. Habitat restoration data is tracked through Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO)’s grant management database, PRISM. This indicator relies on PRISM data to track habitat restoration in floodplains over time.
Project sponsors document habitat restoration projects in PRISM by attaching specific metrics to their projects. This indicator tracks projects tagged with PRISM metrics #55 (changes in channel morphology, sinuosity or connectivity to off-channel habitat, wetlands, or floodplains), #74 (total length of streambank riparian area treated and amount of riparian area treated or managed), #128 (total acres of wetland treated), and #136 (total acres of estuarine/nearshore area treated). Metric #128 includes specific restoration activities: planting of native wetland species in wetland areas, removal and/or control of non-native species, noxious weeds, and other plants or invasive species, and improvement, reconnection, or restoration of existing or historic wetlands. Metrics #74 and #136 also include specific activities related to riparian restoration and estuarine/nearshore restoration; these activities are described in the methods section of the riparian restoration and estuarine/nearshore restoration Progress Indicators, respectively. Project sponsors self-report the acre values tied to these metrics (#55, #74, #128, and #136).
Habitat restoration data for active, active completed, and closed completed projects implemented between state fiscal year 2011 through state fiscal year 2024 are extracted from the PRISM database. Any project with a project type that includes “Restoration” are included – this dataset may therefore include Planning & Restoration projects, Restoration & Development projects, etc. The data are then filtered to include only projects tagged with RCO metrics #55, #74, #128, and #136. The “Proposed” acreage value is displayed in the dataset for projects in the active stage. The “Final” acreage value is displayed in the dataset for projects in active completed or closed completed stages.
Once habitat restoration data were obtained from PRISM, data were cross-referenced with aerial imagery-derived floodplain connectivity restoration data on floodplain restoration. Data on acres of floodplains connected were manually entered from this aerial imagery dataset. Data from PRISM were manually reviewed and cross-referenced with Project Snapshots to confirm the value of acreages. Data were then organized by the state fiscal year in which they began, and data visualizations were created in either Microsoft Excel or Puget Sound Partnership’s reporting platform, PS Info.
Baseline period: fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2024
Limitations
The number of acres restored may change between the project’s proposal and its completion.
Data for this indicator include active projects, whose final acreages may be different from proposed acreages depending on a range of factors (land acquisition, equipment availability, site specifics, etc.). However, the Partnership reviewed a dataset of 251 completed projects with proposed and final acreage values and found that 84% of proposed values were within +/- 10 acres of the final value. There is thus a small degree of expected error as projects are completed and the final acres restored are documented. This indicator will be updated annually to include finalized acre totals as possible.
PRISM is not entirely comprehensive.
This indicator relies on PRISM, which is known to be an incomplete record of restoration in the Puget Sound. However, PRISM is the most comprehensive database of restoration projects available at this point. The Puget Sound Partnership is invested in exploring additional data streams and including them in the dataset for this and other habitat restoration Progress Indicators (e.g., riparian restoration, estuarine/nearshore restoration).
PRISM use may vary across the region.
PRISM relies on project sponsors to self-report data on restoration projects. Project sponsors may differ in how they apply metrics to projects. However, Lead Entity Coordinators dedicate resources to training and supporting project sponsors as they submit their project data. The Puget Sound Partnership is also committed to supporting Lead Entities in the consistent use of PRISM.
- Critical Definitions
Floodplains: the floodplain extent represents the historic or geomorphic floodplain boundary. This covers the relatively level surface extending laterally from the river channel edge (Beechie et al. 2017). Within each river, the floodplain includes the upland freshwater as well as brackish estuarine, pocket estuarine, nearshore, and delta areas.
*NOTE: PSP defines floodplain as inclusive of freshwater floodplain, estuarine, and riparian areas. We apply this definition across all PSP indicator programs, based on past workshops with LEs, Tribes, and local practitioners to develop other floodplain indicators.
Freshwater floodplains: freshwater floodplain boundary areas, including the relatively level surface extending laterally from the river channel edge (Beechie et al. 2017) and upland freshwater areas.
Estuary/nearshore:
- Estuary: tidally influenced areas where fresh and marine waters mix, including protected embayments (modified from PCSRF Data Dictionary 2013 and Encyclopedia of Puget Sound).
- Nearshore: marine riparian, beaches, and shallow water environments of Puget Sound estuarine and marine shoreline areas representing the aquatic boundary between freshwater, air, land, and the open marine waters of Puget Sound (Nearshore Science Team 2003).
Riparian: freshwater areas above the ordinary high-water mark of the stream and within the floodplain of the stream/waterbody (PCSRF Data Dictionary 2013).
Interpretation of Results
This indicator contributes to the 2030 Salmon Habitat Restoration Target for Puget Sound Salmon: by 2030, fund and implement 7,200 new acres of floodplain, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian restoration activities Puget Sound-wide.
This indicator report displays the first compilation of data on floodplains habitat restoration and represents the baseline for future trend assessments. We thus apply the "Limited Data" designation to this indicator and will identify future indicator trends as we compile additional years of restoration data. With additional years of data, we will also evaluate regional progress towards the 2025-2030 Salmon Habitat Restoration Target. As this target was adopted in late 2024, we do not yet have enough data to evaluate regional progress.
To understand changes in this indicator over time, it is important to listen to the experiences of Lead Entities and project sponsors that directly face challenges to proposing and implementing restoration efforts. The decline in restored acres in this habitat could be attributed to a variety of barriers, outlined further in the “Causes for Change” section.
Nearshore environments can be challenging areas to implement restoration. Shorelines are often privately owned, and erosion is a significant concern to many nearshore property owners[i]. More environmentally friendly alternatives to armor are also perceived as ineffective and expensive[i]. Estuary restoration also often requires expensive construction steps[ii].
Riparian and freshwater floodplain areas can also be challenging areas to implement restoration. Riparian habitats often overlap with other critical natural resource industries, like forestry and agriculture1. Restoration efforts can also be highly complex, requiring experience and technical knowledge that may be difficult to access[iii].
Floodplain restoration is best achieved when communities and partners work together. Collaboration helps identify solutions that benefit all parties involved and wildlife simultaneously[iv]. Continued investments in collaborative restoration initiatives and landscape-scale planning can continue to support progress in this indicator.
[i] Francis. T. and A. Kinney (2018). Shoreline Armoring Vital Sign State of Knowledge. Puget Sound Institute. https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Final_SoK_Shoreline-Armoring__05.2018.pdf
[ii] Habitat Strategic Initiative (2021). Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategy: Restoring Puget Sound Floodplains and Estuaries; 2021 Narrative Update. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources. https://pspwa.app.box.com/file/836288644995?s=c4vjba1kffsbfb87b157c00btkfvz8tz
[iii] Rentz, R., A. Windrope, K. Folkerts, and J. Azerrad (2020). Riparian Ecosystems, Volume 2: Management Recommendations. Habitat Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
[iv] Floodplains by Design (2023). Impact of the FbD Grant Program. Floodplains by Design. https://floodplainsbydesign.org/communities-in-action/impact/
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Habitat restoration is possible through coordinated, integrated efforts of Lead Entities and their partners. Lead Entities must also be supported with diverse and flexible funding sources to tackle a variety of projects. Habitat restoration also requires staff knowledge and capacity to move forward with complex projects. Progress in this indicator is thus affected by:
- Access to flexible and predictable funding sources and capacity to use allocated funds for project implementation,
- Technical knowledge to propose and implement complex restoration projects,
- Staff capacity to manage contracts, collaborate with communities to identify restoration opportunities, and develop project proposals,
- Permitting processes, which can delay the implementation of projects,
- Landowner engagement and land availability, and
- Leadership support to implement restoration projects.
Datasets
The Puget Sound Partnership believes in the transparency and accessibility of the data used to address puget sound indicators. These data are provided by contributing partners to the Partnership and are made publicly available through the Puget Sound Info site. These data are available on an "as is" basis and the Partnership is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies. Please acknowledge the monitoring program and data source when using these data and obtain permission from the Progress Indicator Reporter to use these data in a publication.
- Floodplain Restoration Data
- Uploaded On
- 01/10/2025
- File Type
- Excel (XLSX)
- Description
- Data used to calculate floodplain habitat restoration Progress Indicator, last updated in December 2024. Source: PRISM, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
Reporting Guidance
- Reporting Instructions
Subcategories
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Floodplain Restoration |
Estuarine/nearshore, Riparian, Freshwater floodplains, All Habitats (Cumulative)
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